1853, against the treaties made with Urquiza, on the ground that "they may prove detrimental to the rights which Brazil possesses as a sovereign nation." Mr. Marcy replied to this by a note of December 16th, in which he disclaimed any intention on the part of the United States of violating any rights of Brazil, but so long as no actual infringement was proved, and merely its possibility suggested, refused to take the protest into account.

Meanwhile the steamer Water Witch, which had been of much service during the negotiations, continued its explorations and made careful surveys of a great part of the river system. Lopez, the President of Paraguay, at first objected very much to allowing, even for scientific purposes, a war vessel to navigate the Paraguayan rivers, on the ground that Brazil might demand the same favor, and until a treaty of limits had been made with that country it might prove a dangerous precedent. He, however, finally yielded, and even the Brazilian government, owing to the representations of Mr. Schenck and his successor, Mr. Trousdale, allowed the expedition to enter the Brazilian portion of the Paraguay.

A series of unfortunate incidents now occurred which prevented the final ratification of the treaty with Paraguay, and brought that country into hostile relations with the United States. Our Government had appointed as consul at Paraguay Mr. Edward A.

Hopkins, who had, in pursuance of a mistaken policy, been allowed to engage in business on his own account. He was a man somewhat visionary, and filled with chimerical ideas, and seemed to aim at acquiring a predominating influence in the Plate country. He used his position as consul not only to carry out these projects, but to assist him in his commercial enterprises. Besides cigar-factories and other enterprises, he had started a steamer company, of which he called himself the agent general. He had, in various ways made himself obnoxious to President Lopez, who, under a republican name, possessed absolute power, and their relations were already strained, when an insult offered to the consul's brother by some soldier, who was driving cattle, brought both parties to such extremities that, although satisfaction was given for the insult, Hopkins' exequatur was withdrawn, and he, as well as the other Americans engaged in business at Asuncion, was obliged to leave the country. Just at that time the treaty made with the United States was sent to Lieutenant Page for the exchange of ratifications. It had been so carelessly drawn, through the negligence of Mr. Pendleton, that the Senate had found it necessary to make thirty-two amendments, most of which were merely formal ones; for in few places was even the name of our Government given correctly. The English clerk who had drawn up the treaty had styled our Government at

one time the "United States of North America,” at another the "North American Union," etc. Lopez, in his bitterness against Americans and foreigners in general, made the amendments of the Senate a pretext for refusing to ratify the treaty in its new form. He had ratified it once and that was enough. The notes of Lieutenant Page were returned to him without an answer, except that the President did not read English and could not understand them without an official translation. Page, who was hot-headed, lost his temper, and insisted on writing again in English. This the Minister of Foreign Affairs chose to consider as an insult, and Page was obliged to retire.

Soon after this, in October, 1854, a decree was issued prohibiting foreign vessels of war from navigating the rivers of Paraguay-a decree which especially aimed at the explorations of the Water Witch. Page therefore continued his explorations within the limits of the Argentine Confederation; but in descending the river Parana, which was common to the two countries, he got aground, and subsequently, in passing closely under the guns of a Paraguayan fort, the vessel was fired into and the helmsman was killed. This was on February 1, 1855. Our Government at first took no action in the matter, except to send Mr. Richard Fitzpatrick as a special commissioner to exchange the ratifications of the treaty. Mr. Fitzpatrick arrived in November, 1856, but Paraguay again refused to ratify

until the pending questions were settled-not only that of the insult which Lopez claimed to have received from Lieutenant Page of the Water Witch, but also for the reclamations which had been made on the part of the steamer company of Mr. Hopkins. The matter was thereupon brought to the attention of Congress, and on June 2, 1858, the President was authorized to take such action as he deemed necessary. A commissioner was again sent to Paraguay, and a considerable naval force-of nineteen vessels, carrying two hundred guns and twenty-five hundred men-was despatched to the river La Plata. show of force had its effect. Our commissioner, Mr. James B. Bowlin, arrived at Asuncion on January 25, 1859, and by February 4th succeeded in concluding two treaties-one for the settlement of claims, and the other of commerce and navigation, being an almost exact copy of the original treaty of 1853. These treaties were afterward duly ratified by both sides, and the question was finally settled.*

This

* The history of this episode may be found in part in the book of Lieutenant Page, cited above; in the Annuaire de la Revue des deux Mondes, 1853-59; and in the Messages of President Buchanan, of December 8, 1857, and December 19, 1859, with the accompanying documents.

G.-THE AMAZON.

Our Treaty with Peru of 1851.-Brazilian Intrigues.-Mr. Randolph Clay's Negotiations.-Bolivian Decree.-Peruvian River Ports Opened.-Intrigues at Lima.-England and France.-Mr. Marcy's Reply to the Brazilian Minister. His Instructions to Mr. Trousdale.-President Pierce's Message.-Peru Changes Face and Accepts Brazilian Doctrines.-Abrogation of Treaty with Peru.Treaty with Bolivia.-Trousdale at Rio Janeiro.—Brazilian Decree of 1866, Opening the Amazon.-Peruvian De

cree.

ON July 26, 1851, Mr. J. Randolph Clay, our minister at Lima, concluded a treaty of friendship, commerce, and navigation between the United States and Peru, which was duly ratified on both sides. Three previous treaties of a similar nature had been concluded, and had been approved by the Senate of the United States and ratified by the President, but had all been rejected by the Peruvian Congress. By this treaty Peru agreed to grant to no other nation favors, privileges, or immunities which should not immediately be extended to citizens of the United States; and agreed also that citizens of the United States establishing lines of steam-vessels between the different. ports of entry within the Peruvian territories should have all the privileges and favors enjoyed by any other association or company whatever.

Already, before the treaty had been made, Lieuten